ZesT 50+ Living June 2010
A Man of Many Hats Litchfield’s Bruce Cottington exemplifies community involvement Tammy Lauer: your computer tutor
Historic train depots Spotlight: Gladys Miska
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Contents
ZesT
6
5
Spotlight: Miska keeps bowling
6
FEATURE STORY: Cyber connection
10
Days gone by: Historic train depots
12
COVER STORY: Bruce Cottington: A man of many hats
16
Recipes: Best tuna salads
17
Travel: Summer events calendar
18
Puzzles
21
Wellness: Treatments for tinnitus
22
Money Matters: The financial pyramid
23
Last Word: Embracing technology by Judy Hulterstrum, Augustana Homes
10
12 Sunshine, farms and Zest are ‘newly sprung in June’ Hello readers! It’s June already, if you can believe it. Soon we’ll be packing up for summer vacations, camping trips and picnics. Along with your sunscreen and potato salad, don’t forget to take the June edition of Zest. In this edition be entertained by the stories of Bette Corbid’s family and how its members reconnected with the help of the Internet and Tammy Lauer’s tutelage, and of Litchfield’s Bruce Cottington, who has been instrumental in many of the town’s events, including starting the Peanut Butter and Milk Festival. But before you turn the page, let
June 2010 Vol. 1 No. 4 zestforlife.mn
me remind you that June is more than the kick off to the vacation season. It is also the month to pay homage to all those involved in the dairy industry. At Christmas time visions of sugarplums dance in our heads, but come June those visions morph into ice cream cones and cheese curds for me. My upbringing on a small Wisconsin dairy farm doesn’t let me forget that the sixth month of the year is set aside to celebrate all things dairy. My family marked the occasion the same way every year. Each Sunday during June, we hit the road to find the nearest dairy breakfast. Seated on a picnic table inside a tin-roofed machine shed, we thanked the hosting farm family
and the industry that supported us by dining on pancakes, scrambled eggs and cheese slices. I think it is fitting that recognition of dairy farmers and Katie Father’s Day fall in the same month. I Winter know in my family, and I suspect in countless others out there, farming dads not only nurtured the crops and livestock, but also the children who saw the farmyard as one big playground. So cheers to dairy farms, the dads that operate them and the summer weather that sustains them. Katie Winter
ZEST / June 2010 3
Letters
A big ‘thank you’ to volunteers To the editor: April was national volunteer month, and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota would like to take this opportunity to thank its dedicated volunteers who not only give of their time but also their compassion to others in our community. All totaled, 9,861 volunteers gave 877,000 hours of service across the state! Here are just a few examples of the invaluable ways they service at LSS. In 2009, LSS Senior Nutrition provided about 1.3 million meals. Nearly 3,800 volunteers helped to deliver meals to homebound seniors, served on advisory committees, and assisted with daily tasks at senior dining sites to keep the service running smoothly. More than 250 volunteers reached out primarily as trained caregivers at LSS to provide a rest to families caring for loved ones with illness or special needs. Through the Caregiver Respite service, LSS provides
caregiver counseling, discussion groups, volunteer training and morning out opportunities in a number of communities. Statewide, there are 366 Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion volunteers at LSS. Foster Grandparents serve as tutors to elementary students in classrooms or as caring adults to at-risk children in other settings. Senior Companions befriend other seniors to help them with shopping, transportation and other daily needs to help them live independently. At LSS, volunteers who roll up their sleeves to serve others not only extend our care but, in many instances, also keep services affordable. To learn more about LSS services, or how you can become a volunteer, visit our Web site, www.lssmn.org. With our thanks, Lutheran Social Service Senior Nutrition, Senior Corps and Caregiver Respite Services
What do you think? We want to hear your thoughts on this topic and many others. Letters to Zest can be mailed or dropped off at 217 N. Sibley Ave., Litchfield, MN 55355 or 36 Washington Ave. W., Hutchinson, MN 55350 or sent via e-mail to winter@independentreview.net or winter@hutchinsonleader.com.
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Spotlight
At 92, Miska keeps bowling along
Gladys Miska’s passion is bowling. By Kay Johnson
S
ince 1916, the USBC Women’s Championships has
welcomed bowlers of all ages and abilities to compete on the tournament lanes. Gladys Miska of Brownton was born a year after the inaugural Women’s Championships, and 92 years later, both are still going strong. Miska, a 92-year-old right-hander, made her 20th tournament appearance on April 8 in El Paso, Texas. She still travels to the tournament with high expectations. “It was one of my worst performances out there,” Miska said after her team event. “I’m going to try and do better tomorrow.” Even with her 93rd birthday approaching,
Miska bowls three times a week at Pla-Mor Lanes in Glencoe, and Hutch Bowl in Hutchinson. This includes competing in the same league with the same sponsored team, Security Bank and Trust, for 52 consecutive years. In those 52 years, Miska has bowled with many people and developed countless friendships, but she distinctly remembers achieving her first goal, winning a league championship. “I always wanted to end up first, and it took us about 15 years to accomplish it,” Miska said. “It’s funny, though, because after the first title, we haven’t come close since.”
Miska plans to keep competing at the Women’s Championships as long as she can. “As long as I’m still walking, I’ll be here next year,” she said. “It’s real fun. All of the girls take care of me, and they call me Grandma. Even the team next to us was calling me Grandma.” Miska, whose 125 average places her in the Sapphire Division, shot a 373 series in doubles, 350 in team and 345 in singles for a 1,068 all-events total. All scores include handicap. The Sapphire Division is for bowlers with an average of 149 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 150.
ZEST / June 2010 5
Feature Story
STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE WINTER
Bette Corbid of Hutchinson has benefited from Tammy Lauer’s computer assistance. Corbid now uses e-mail and Web sites to communicate with old friends, relatives and her 15 grandchildren.
Cyber connection Tammy Lauer teaches technology basics to older adults, putting them back in touch with family and friends 6 ZEST / June 2010
Feature Story By Katie Winter
B
ette Corbid’s computer sat turned off for the first few years she owned it; she just had not got around to learning to use it yet. The 74-year-old retired nurse practitioner even took a computer class for older adults to learn the ins and outs of her PC, but somehow the lessons didn’t take hold. Corbid was left with a bruised GPA and a computer she still didn’t understand. But when friends and family kept asking her to get online, she decided to try another approach. This time some one-on-one attention from Tammy Lauer and her recently started My Computer Tutor business put Corbid on the path to computer competence. She can now consider herself a member of a growing group of older adults exploring cyberspace. The number of people older than 65 using the Internet rose by 6 million in the past five years, according to data released by The Nielsen Co. in December. Google and Windows Media were the first and second most visited online destinations with Facebook and YouTube placing third and fourth among users 65 and older. Checking e-mail was listed as the top
online activity. “There’s a wide variety of people out there with different comfort levels,” Lauer said. “I think the more experience you have with a computer the more you trust it.”
Business satisfaction While Corbid let her computer sit unused, she allowed her mind to dream of the ways the machine could help her reconnect with family. That is where Lauer’s services came into play and turned Corbid’s fantasies into a reality. Lauer began My Computer Tutor in January after spending 19 years as a mechanical engineer at Hutchinson Technology Inc. With My Computer Tutor, she provides a wide range of services that include lessons in Microsoft Office software, photo editing, printing, e-mail and Internet basics. She has also assisted with cell phones, mp3 players and digital cameras. She does all that with a personal and customized approach. “The whole part of the business is just customer service,” Lauer said. “I want to share what I know so they can be more productive or communicate better.” Lauer has become the computer
guru in her Hutchinson neighborhood. Many of her first customers were her neighbors and many are of a generation when outer space was more familiar than cyberspace. Lauer said one of her reasons for switching careers was to have an opportunity to reinvest in people. She tried teaching computers in a group classroom setting but did not find it as rewarding as teaching one-on-one, especially to older students. “I did some home health aid work with the elderly population,” Lauer said. “I found I had some patience for them and an appreciation for where they are at and for some of their needs. That contributed to me starting my own business. With the oneon-one there is some satisfaction.”
A family reconnected Corbid and Lauer are doing their best to smash the idea that computers contribute to social isolation and loneliness. In fact, Corbid likes to trumpet the opposite. For her, the Internet makes her feel part of society and has re-established relationships with family members. Corbid has always been part of a large family. She is the mother of seven children and grandmother to
A study conducted by the The Nielsen Co. in 2009 found that the number of people older than 65 using the Internet has increased from 11.3 million users in November 2004 to 17.5 million in November 2009. It also listed the most popular Web sites visited, with Google topping the list. ZEST / June 2010 7
Feature Story 15. Her immediate and extended families are spread across the country from the Midwest to the West Coast. E-mail, web cams and the Internet, though, have nearly completely erased state borders and Corbid’s feelings of being separated from family. “The most special thing is when you live alone and you wake up in the morning and you think ‘let’s see if anybody remembers me.’ It’s fun to wake up and see what kid e-mailed. It’s made me less isolated, happier. These are the people I want to know.” Corbid has already gathered a trove of precious moments online. She shares stories and jokes
with the whole family. She e-mails family photographs and advice to a niece in California. She follows a granddaughter’s swimming achievements via a Web site. She said taking part in her family’s life this way is better than not at all. “My granddaughter is a champion swimmer,” Corbid said. “I try to follow her closely. I knew she was swimming in nationals (in Washington). Everybody tried to give me (Web) addresses, so Tammy set me up as best she could. “Now it was time for the big race and I saw a time clock on the computer and there she was in lane eight. All I could see was a line and this line was going and she won her heat.
Afterward I called her and said, ‘I watched you on a green line.’ That was really fun.”
Virtual history The family’s online communications have proved educational and sparked an interest in family history. Corbid created scrapbook pages filled with photos and little stories of her parents and their lives. Lauer then helped her scan the pages and e-mail them. “We started doing it for the grandkids, Corbid said. “We’d send them (photos) of great grandparents and their story. I’d venture to say that before we talked on the computer they could
not have cared less about (family history), but they care now. It was special.” These moments would not have been possible without Lauer’s help, Corbid admits. She said Lauer’s easy-to-follow, stepby-step instructions and encouragement have made for an enjoyable experience. Lauer is pleased with the credit, but the real reward for her is knowing that her clients’ lives have been improved. “I know how important family history is,” Lauer said. “Just connecting with the Internet makes that ‘I’m a little bit lonely’ become ‘I’m excited now to be connected.’ That freedom I give to customers is really rewarding.”
Tammy Lauer helped neighbor Ruth Torgerson install audio books on her ipod and also hooked up a system to play the ipod through her car’s stereo. Being able to listen to the books was a treat for Torgerson and her husband during a roadtrip to Florida.
STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE WINTER
8 ZEST / June 2010
Feature Story
The details: My Computer Tutor Tammy Lauer, owner of My Computer Tutor, recently received loan assistance from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microenterprise Loan Program for the start-up of her computer software and technology training business in Hutchinson. Lauer offers individualized training by assisting people at their home or business in computer software programs and electronic devices. She will work with people who may not be tech savvy but would like to learn more about technology tools. She listens to her clients explain their goals and customizes training to meet their needs. “This is more relational,” Lauer said. “It’s investing in people for the long term. It doesn’t feel like work to
me. It’s something I look forward to. That makes it rewarding.” Lauer is a certified QuickBooks advisor and has experience teaching QuickBooks to home users and small businesses as well as project management skills. She has training and experience to teach Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, and Project, as well as other software applications and technology tips. “Tammy has a gift of patience and understanding, which is a real benefit to her customers and her business. We think her services will fill a need in the community,” said Kurt Thompson, the foundation’s program officer. Proceeds from the loan will be used
to purchase equipment and provide working capital for the start-up of the business. A specific segment that Lauer is well suited to assist is older adults, in part due to her experience as a home health aide. She can teach tools such as e-mail to improve communication between grandparents and grandchildren, for example. Lauer also has a special interest in family history, photographs and online genealogy, and she has helped individuals record their family history with photographs and memoirs to be passed on to future generations. For more information about My Computer Tutor, visit www.mncomputertutor.com, or call Lauer at 320583-2567. –Terry Davis
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ZEST / June 2010 9
Days gone by The Silver Lake train depot sat next to the Luce Line Railroad. It was built in 1915.
The days of the railroad Before automobiles and airplanes became the preferred mode of transportation, trains, rail lines and their corresponding depots were the hubs of activity and travel.The McLeod County Historical Society has collected several photographs from the time when steam engines and conductors reigned. In the photo at right is the Luce Line Railroad train depot in Hutchinson. In the photo above passengers prepare to board a train at the depot in Winsted in March 1958.
10 ZEST / June 2010
Days gone by
All aboard
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This post card from 1913 shows the Litchfield train depot, which was on the site that is now a Burger King restaurant.
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The railroad first came to Lake Lillian in 1923. In this undated photograph is the depot and a 1285 caboose.
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ZEST / June 2010 11
Cover Story
A man of many hats Litchfield’s Bruce Cottington exemplifies community involvement
STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE WINTER
Bruce Cottington, seated with his cat Domino, has worn many hats during his 42 years in Litchfield, including grocery store owner, dairy promoter, radio personality and political campaigner. 12 ZEST / June 2010
Cover Story By Katie Winter
The formative years
T
Cottington was raised on a dairy farm in Forest City, Iowa. He was the tenth of 13 siblings raised primarily by his mother after his father died in 1937. In 1943 at just 16 years old, he enlisted with United States Navy. He saw active duty in World War II during campaigns in Saipan, Tinian and the Philippines. Cottington would serve the United States again in the Korean War. During his military career he earned eight battle stars. During his service time and after, Cottington attained a degree in business administration from Drake University, married wife, Florence and began his career in the grocery business. In 1954, he was hired to manage a Kroger grocery store in Kansas City, Mo. By the 1960s, he was developing the diary department for Supervalu. “Supervalu asked me to start the dairy department because they didn’t have one,” Cottington said. “I put together a dairy department for the (company’s) five divisions. Our sales were zero and I was the only one in the department. Today their sales are $5 billion in just dairy.”
he worn pages of the small calendar Bruce Cottington keeps in his shirt pocket have very few open dates. In it, the Litchfield stalwart meticulously writes in each meeting, appointment and community event he has promised to attend. Never one to turn down an opportunity to embark on a new adventure, the 82-year-old Cottington has worn the hat of a grocery store owner, political campaigner, dairy promoter and festival founder. He has built a lifelong career of community service around such inconspicuous things as peanut butter, cows and radio. He founded the Peanut Butter and Milk Festival in 1971. He owned the Litchfield Supervalu grocery store during the 1970s. Later he joined up with the American Dairy Association, which gave him a platform to crusade for the dairy industry. He turned his love of farming and radio broadcasting into Cheese Ball Corner, a radio show he presents on KFLD. The bespectacled Cottington, articulate and friendly with a grin that comes easily, knows his way around the workings of civic and community organizations. From the American Legion to agriculture boards, Cottington is well acquainted with the benefits of being active in the community. “I’m very discouraged by people when they get to a certain age and just quit,” Cottington said. “Keep doing. There are a lot of things you can do. I like to volunteer. I meet a lot of people, but then I’ve always been a people person. I say people are important.”
mote his store during a weekly radio spot. Cottington knew that the Supervalu company had a peanut butter factory and wanted to increase its sales of dairy products. Those two elements planted the seed for the International
Peanut Butter and Milk Festival in Cottington’s mind. By February 1971, the International Peanut Butter and Milk Festival had taken shape. Cottington handed out Master Peanut Butter
Welcome to Litchfield Cottington moved with Florence and their three sons to Litchfield in 1968 to become part owner of the Supervalu store. He soon discovered that store ownership entailed more than just stocking the right foodstuffs. It also required a knack for marketing and brand promotion. When a competing grocery store opened in Litchfield, Cottington was searching for a way to pro-
STAFF PHOTO BY AMBER THOMPSON
Minneapolis Aquatennial Captain Rob Mauzy and Aquatennial Princess Jaclyn Auger presented the Aquatennial Honorary Commodore Award to Bruce Cottington during the 2009 Watercade coronation. Recipients of the award demonstrate the spirit of volunteerism and involvement within the community. ZEST / June 2010 13
Cover Story Eater certificates to customers at his store and to people throughout the country. He chose a sister city in Hartford, Ala., which was known for its peanut butter production, to share the festival with its community. Groups from both cities still visit each other every fall and winter. He also incorporated the
Master Milk Drinker program into the festival and was able to recruit Minnesota’s favorite sports figures to help him out. “I got to know Frank Quilici (former Minnesota Twins player and manager) because he came to our store quite a bit,” Cottington said. “In 1971, I started a program called
Master Milk Drinker and I needed somebody to sign the certificate. So I went down to talk to the Vikings and Oscar Reed. He said ‘I’ll sign it but it’s $500. That’s our policy.’ I didn’t have $500, so I took it over to the Twins and asked Quilici who should sign it. He said ‘go ask Harmon (Killebrew). He’ll sign it.’ And he did. I’ve got the original yet.” Now in its 40th year, the International Peanut Butter and Milk Festival is still rooted in its founding goals – to promote rural America; promote good food; promote the dairy industry; and to involve young people in the events.
A political spirit
STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE WINTER
Bruce Cottington holds a picture of the family farm he grew up on in Forest City, Iowa. It was the place he first found a love of agriculture and politics.
14 ZEST / June 2010
Cottington’s appetite for politics developed at an early age. He can recall, as an 8-year-old, listening to his father talk about the Republican Party and feeling a connection with his country. That feeling would prompt him to enroll in the armed forces and become an active political campaigner. “My first experience with politics was in 1936,” Cottington said. “My brothers and I and my sisters too, we were all Republicans from my dad. My dad was a strong supporter of Alf Landon when he ran against Roosevelt.” Through his involvement with the Meeker County Republicans, Cottington has met some of the country’s leading politicians. In his home office, there is a box filled with the cards and letters he has received from the politicians Cottington calls his friends. He has Christmas cards from the White House and thank you notes from mem-
bers of congress. He has had lunch with President Gerald Ford, drove in a car with then-presidential hopeful George H.W. Bush and met Richard Nixon. Cottington is currently involved with the race for the District 18 Senate seat. He has advice for all those running for office. “I think Republicans and Democrats don’t all use common sense,” Cottington said. “I congratulate those who do or try to. My political philosophy is very simple; use common sense on any issue. It’s that simple. It will keep you out of the fire.”
A dairy supporter Cottington became quite familiar with the legislative side of the political process, especially as it pertained to the dairy industry. After selling his grocery store in 1979, Cottington took the opportunity to become a field man for the American Dairy Association of Minnesota. He traveled around the state getting to know farmers and fighting for the betterment of their industry. “I was raised on a farm where we had dairy and in my own store I promoted dairy a lot,” Cottington said. “It’s just part of my life. I like the dairy part of the business and of course I’m much attached to animals. I just like it.” Today Cottington is still involved in promotion. His Cheese Ball Corner radio program is in its 10th year. During the show he chats to listeners about farming, current affairs, and Minnesota life in general. With his finger still on the pulse of the dairy industry, Cottington assesses it with optimism.
Cover Story “I see the dairy industry is down a little because the milk prices are down,” Cottington said, “but I think the dairy industry has a good future. It has a good past and a good future because dairy cows are always going to produce.” Cottington has no intentions to slow down anytime soon. In 2000, four years after his wife, Florence died, he married Marie Rick. The couple have six children and 14 grandchildren between them. They also work together on
Cottington’s radio program. Cottington is still involved in organizing the Peanut Butter and Milk Festival and is helping with the upcoming National Holstein convention in Minneapolis. “I’m certainly not retired,” Cottington said. “I’m an old Navy guy. I’m in reserve. People call me and they know I’ll do something to help.”
At age 16, Bruce Cottington joined the United States Navy in 1943 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Underage at the time, Cottington said he feared his age would be discovered and he would be “kicked out” of the Navy.That did not happen and he went on to serve in the Korean War and earn eight battle stars.
ZEST / June 2010 15
Comfort Foods
Best Tuna Salads By Good Housekeeping Ingredients for Best Tuna Salad: • 1 can (6 ounces) chunklight tuna packed in water, drained • 1/4 cup celery, chopped • 3 tablespoons light mayonnaise • 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• Baguette or other favorite bread Instructions: 1. In small bowl, with fork, combine all ingredients except baguette. Cover and refrigerate if not serving right away. Serve on a baguette, if you like. Mediterranean Tuna Prepare Best Tuna Salad Stir in 2 tablespoons
Monuments and More!
capers, chopped and 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel. Serve on Italian bread. Curried Tuna Prepare Best Tuna Salad as above. Stir in 1/2 cup finely chopped Granny Smith apple and 1 teaspoon curry powder. Serve on raisin-walnut or sourdough bread. Southwestern Tuna Prepare Best Tuna Salad as above. Stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves and 1 pickled jalapeno chile, finely chopped. Serve rolled up in warm flour tortillas.
Spaghetti Carbonara By Good Housekeeping Ingredients: • 1 pound spaghetti • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 3 slices thick-cut bacon (or 4 ounces pancetta), cut into 1/4-inch pieces • 1 small onion, chopped • 5 large eggs • 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese, and additional for serving • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper • 1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh parsley leaves, chopped Instructions: 1. In large covered pot of salted boiling water, cook spaghetti as label directs. 2. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium 1 minute. Add bacon
and cook until browned. With slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet; add onion and cook 6 minutes or until tender. Remove skillet from heat. 3. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta; add to skillet with reserved water and bacon. Cook on medium, stirring, until water is absorbed. In bowl, whisk eggs with Romano and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. 4. Remove skillet from heat; stir in egg mixture. Add parsley and toss until pasta is well coated. Spoon into warm pasta bowl; serve with Romano and coarsely ground black pepper to taste. Makes 4 maindish servings.
Sunshine Trifle By Good Housekeeping Ingredients: • 1 1/2 cups prepared vanilla pudding • 1/3 cup thawed orange juice concentrate • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 1 teaspoon sugar • 1 (3/4-ounce) frozen pound cake Instructions: 1. In a bowl, combine vanilla pudding and thawed concentrate. In another bowl, whip heavy cream and sugar until soft peaks form. 2. Cut half of frozen pound cake into 1/2-inch cubes. In four 8-ounce parfait glasses, layer cake, pudding and cream; repeat. Chill 2 hours. Serves 4.
Wanted: Recipes Darwin Monument
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Share your favorite recipes with Zest readers by sending them to winter@hutchinsonleader.com or mail them to 36 Washington Ave. W. Hutchinson, MN 55350 or 217 N. Sibley Ave., Litchfield, MN 55355, attn: Katie Winter.
Travel
Calendar of events June 11-13: Glencoe Days
July 30-Aug. 1: Pola Czesky Days in Silver Lake
A weekend of activities including fireworks and car show.
A weekend featuring live music, a flea market, a parade, a car show and fireworks is planned.
June 14-20: Hutchinson Jaycee Water Carnival
Aug. 6-8:Winsted Summer Festival in Winsted
Celebrate the 68th Water Carnival with events such as canoe races, water parade, live music and fireworks.
The city celebration features bingo, a 5K run, fireworks, parade and royalty coronation.
July 8-11: Litchfield Watercade
Aug. 9-11: Cokato Corn Carnival
Litchfield’s annual city celebration includes a sand sculpture contest, water ski show and parade.
Cokato’ 61st Annual Corn Carnival features free corn on the cob, a parade and live music from Redpath.
July 16-17: Prairie Days in Lester Prairie The celebration has favorites like the band “Diamondback, softball tournament, car show and parade.
July 16-18: Cosmos Space Festival in Cosmos The festival has a street dance parade, fireworks and the Little Miss Universe and Man in the Moon coronation.
Aug. 5-8: Meeker County Fair
Aug. 14:Twine Ball Days in Darwin A day of food, friends and entertainment.
Aug. 18-22: McLeod County Fair The annual fair features livestock shows, a battle of the bands and a demolition derby.
Sept. 4-6: Dassel Red Rooster Days in Dassel
The county fair offers livestock and project judging, lawn mower derby, food and much more.
Come for the chicken barbecue, parade and arts show.
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Puzzles
KING CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Elevator man 5 Playground game 8 Uncertain 12 Rid of rind 13 Inseparable 14 Exposed 15 Egress 16 Atmosphere 17 Pedestal occupant 18 Drop from the will 20 Computer-to-phone links 22 Nourished 23 Nov. follower 24 Musical phrase 27 Pollution filter of a sort 32 Greek H 33 Vitamin stat 34 Fish eggs 35 MySpace rival 38 Without acting 39 Mess up 40 Type measures
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Prophet whose donkey scolded him Awkwardly stiff Cowheaded goddess Lawyers' org. Nibble Biography Solidify Faris of "Scary Movie" Back muscles, briefly Squid squirt Authentic
DOWN 1 Newspaper page 2 Cab 3 Camera part 4 Ignite 5 Bidirectional 6 Blackbird 7 Bacterium 8 In the same place (Lat.) 9 Jack, e.g. 10 Gift-tag word 11 Longings 19 Lindbergh book
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Praise in verse Ump Call - day "Nip/Tuck" offering Commotion One-sided contest Fa-la connector Crucial Obliterates Support provider Weather-map line Criminal's procedure (Abbr.) Check One side of the Urals Creche trio Eat in style Sicilian spouter Actress Patricia Stiller or Stein
All answers on page 20
Puzzles
All answers on page 20
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Puzzle Answers
Ask Marci
Eye exams not covered by Medicare Dear Marci, I have been wearing glasses for a long time. I recently became eligible for Medicare. I was wondering if Medicare would cover my next eye doctor appointment and glasses prescription. — Benjamin Dear Benjamin, Unfortunately, most vision care is not covered by Original Medicare. Most routine eye care, including eyeglasses (except after cataract surgery) is not covered. Medicare will pay for some eye care services if you have a chronic eye condition, such as cataracts or glaucoma. The following eye care services are covered if you have one of those conditions: • Surgical procedures to help repair the function of the eye due to one of these conditions. • Eyeglasses or contacts if you have had cataract surgery during which an intraocular lens was placed in your eye. Medicare will cover a pair of non-tinted prescription eyeglasses or contacts if you need them after surgery. • An eye exam to diag-
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nose potential vision problems. If you are having vision problems that indicate a serious eye condition, Medicare will pay for an exam to see what is wrong, even if it turns out there is nothing wrong with your sight. Medicare covers routine eye care only in certain circumstances: • If you have diabetes, Medicare will pay for an eye exam once every 12 months to check for eye disease due to diabetes. • If you are at high risk for glaucoma, Medicare will cover an eye exam by a state-authorized eye doctor once every 12 months. Medicare private health plans might cover certain vision care services. You should check with your plan to see if there are any vision care services they cover. —Marci Do you help people with Medicare? Where do you turn to for help? Call the Professional Hotline, a national service offered by the Medicare Rights Center to support people serving the Medicare population. Dial 877-794-3570 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST for accurate, up-to-date information
Wellness
Treatments to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus Dear Mayo Clinic: Five months ago I woke up with severe ringing in my left ear. The ringing stopped after a couple of days but returned three months later and is now in both ears. It is a mix of a constant high-pitched buzzing, ringing and a whistling sound. I have had four hearing tests, all normal for my age (38). What caused this? Is treatment available? The condition you’re describing is called idiopathic bilateral subjective tinnitus. What causes tinnitus is unclear, and a cure for this disorder currently isn’t available. But a variety of treatment options can help reduce the bothersome symptom of tinnitus. Tinnitus involves the sensation of hearing sound when no external sound is present. As in your situation, the sound may take the form of buzzing, ringing or whistling. Tinnitus may also involve roaring, clicking or hissing noises. The noise may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal in one or both ears. In some cases, the sound can be so loud it interferes with a person's ability to concentrate or hear. Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it may come and go. Many theories have been advanced as to why tinnitus occurs, but no clear-cut answer has been proven. We do know that the perception of tinnitus symptoms is perpetuated and maintained in the hearing centers within the brain. In some cases, an underlying medical condition may cause tinnitus, such as inner ear cell damage, age-related hearing loss, and toxins that gain access to the inner ear (ototoxicity), among others. Long-term exposure to loud noise may also result in tinnitus. But in many cases, an exact cause is never found. Unfortunately, there are no medical or surgical cures for tinnitus. However, many strategies are available that can make tinnitus symptoms less disturbing. Environmental noise that can mask and help suppress tinnitus is helpful for most people with the disorder. People often use machines that play natural sounds — thunderstorms or ocean waves, for example — to mask the noise of tinnitus. These machines are particularly beneficial at night when a person’s surrounding environment is at its quietest. Hearing aids can also help people who have both hearing loss and tinnitus. Using a hearing aid brings more natural outside sounds to the ear, distracting the brain from focusing on the abnormal internal sounds of tinnitus. For people who have normal hearing and tinnitus, noisemasking devices worn on the ear are an option. These devices look similar to a hearing aid and play a low level of white noise to redirect the brain’s attention away from the tinnitus sounds.
Tinnitus is the condition of hearing buzzing, ringing or whistling in the ears. If, despite treatment, symptoms continue to be disruptive, tinnitus retraining therapy may be useful. This therapy typically involves a 12- to 18-month program that uses a combination of sound enrichment, education and behavioral therapy to help alleviate the negative emotional reaction to tinnitus. At this time, many researchers are working to find better treatments for those who have tinnitus, providing hope for future advances in tinnitus therapy. I suggest you talk to your doctor or make an appointment with a physician who specializes in ear, nose and throat disorders (otorhinolaryngologist) to discuss your symptoms and develop a treatment plan that fits your situation. Even though a cure isn’t available, effective treatment exists that can decrease the effect of tinnitus on your daily life. — Brian Neff, M.D., Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
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Money
The financial pyramid W
hat do food and financial fitness have in common? The answer is a pyramid that can help you visualize just how to balance financial priorities. While no two people will have exactly the same retirement plan, using a financial fitness pyramid can give you an idea of how to balance your investments. When presented with the food pyramid developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, most people understand which choices can ensure that their bodies remain healthy. Drawing on that recognition, the Insured Retirement Institute recently developed its Retirement Pyramid – a visually simple but powerful tool that financial advisers can use to help explain investment decisions to their clients. Once they have visualized the plan, they work together to produce a healthy and vital financial future. Making up the large base of the pyramid are guaranteed income streams, such as annuities, which have continued to grow in popularity during the economic downturn. President Barack Obama recently touted annuities as vehicles to reduce concerns that “retirees will outlive their savings.” And as the certainty of Social Security may seem tenuous to younger investors, annuities may prove
valuable alternatives. On the next level of the pyramid are longer-term investments that need time to mature and grow. Examples include traditional 401(k)s, IRAs, real estate holdings and some annuities as well. As 401(k)s and IRAs offer a wide selection of investments, they also provide some stability against the frequent fluctuations that can affect a company’s single stock. Insurance is critical, too. While the bulk of your asset base should not be overly invested in this group, investors should not ignore the importance of a good mixture of life insurance with long-term care, medical coverage and Medicare. At the top of the Retirement Pyramid are CDs, mutual funds, stocks and bonds. With the wild swing of the stock market over the past two years, advisers may want to dilute some of these more volatile investments with something more stable, such as IRAs, and more guaranteed income streams, such as annuities. A smattering of these in your retirement plan is a wise choice. A healthy financial diet will include all four basic groups – guaranteed income, long-term assets, insurance and investments.
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Open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m. 1st and 3rd Saturdays Labor Day through Memorial Day: 8:30 a.m.–12 Noon
We offer the newest technologies in • Lifestyle Premium Intraocular Lenses—implants that correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and the need for bifocals • New Surgical Treatment of Glaucoma • All-Laser Lasik Amy J. Nyquist, O.D.
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Michael P. Merck, M.D.
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• New Treatments for Macular Degeneration • Eyelid Surgery N02351 Z
Last Word
Embracing technology Computers help older adults live in safety and independence By Judy Hulterstrum, foundation/marketing coordinator at Augustana Homes
Over the past decade technology has created a whole new world for seniors. This new wave of technology is changing the world for older adults by delivering new options that help people to live longer and more independently wherever they choose to call home. It is not just playing games, receiving e-mails and pictures from grandchildren who live miles away; it is identifying ways to improve seniors’ quality of life. Technologies that help provide care and well-being will be essential as people live longer and as the “baby boomers” reach the ages of needing care. Caring for aging adults with technology at home is where programs such as Augustana Home Care will be
going in the near future. In a video created for the Center for Aging Services Technology, a real-life scenario shows the benefits of technology. An 87-year-old man with a heart condition lives at home alone. Online games of solitaire and poker help him exercise his mind. A high-tech wrist watch reminds him to take his medications, and sensors turn off the burners on his stove if he forgets. His medical information is digitally recorded so any doctor has immediate access to it, and a “reality family TV” monitor in his home allows two-way communication with family members. To learn more about this technology visit www.agingtech.org. Another area of technology is the sandwich generation (kids taking care of their parents) using technology for long-distance care giving. Picture this scenario: Lynn comes to her office in Cody, Wyo., at 8 a.m. each weekday and promptly turns on her computer to check a daily e-mail she knows will be there. It comes from a “friend” of sorts — a computer-
ized program that assures her that her 87-year-old mother, living alone in her home 800 miles away in southern Minnesota, is doing just fine. A series of green dots on the screen tells her that Helen, her mother, got out of bed at a normal time, opened her refrigerator and her medicine cabinet and is moving about the house in the usual way. If a red dot appears, the computer has recorded a variation in her normal activity pattern. When the computer has detected a potentially alarming situation, the daughters are called as well as an immediate dispatch of professional health care givers is sent to Helen’s home. The situation is taken care of and Helen can again remain in her home with these technology monitors to assure her safety and give assurance to her family. Augustana Home Care in Litchfield will be testing new technology to assist older adults to stay independent as long as possible. You will be hearing more about the new programs in the near future.
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Rest easy, The Sleep Center is open
A good’s night’s sleep is essential to your health. Experts estimate that 95 percent of those suffering from sleep disorders go undiagnosed, because they mistakenly attribute the symptoms of sleep disorders to other conditions. People literally sleep through their problems.
Who Should Visit The Sleep Center? Sleep disorders and poor sleep can be associated with the following symptoms: • Daytime sleepiness even after a • Short temper or irritability full night’s sleep • Nighttime chest pains • Morning headaches • Lack of energy or ambition • Breathing irregularities/heavy snoring, • Problems concentrating or snorting or gasping during sleep remembering things
Methods of Treatment Treatment may include relaxation training, behavioral therapy, medication, or the use of special devices that help patients improve their sleep. Some patients will need an overnight sleep study (called polysomnography or PSG) that monitors your sleep, breathing, heart rhythm and limb movement through painless sensors attached to your body.
Proven Expertise. Excellent Results.
320.234.5000 www.HutchinsonHealthCare.com
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The Sleep Center is led by a physician from the University of Minnesota who specializes in the testing, diagnosis and treatment of your symptoms. If you or someone you know could benefit from a better night’s sleep, contact your physician for a referral.